The ‘Evaluate the usefulness of…’ question 12 marks

The ‘Evaluate the usefulness of…’ question (12 marks)

What is it asking?

It is asking candidates to evaluate the usefulness of a

source in relation to a particular aspect of the Course.

Candidates should

♦ comment on authorship, date and purpose.

♦ interpret points in the source.

♦ relate the source to their understanding of the wider

historical context. Recall should include relevant

historiography.

Evaluate the usefulness of.. Provenance - Author, Timing & Purpose (P) 2 or 3 marks

1

2

3

Interpretation: (I) 2 or 3 marks

1

2

3

Total of 5 marks for Provenance and Interpretation – divided either 3/2 or 2/3

Wider Contextual Development (WCD): 5 marks

1

2

3

4

5

Historians’ Views: 2 marks

1

2

Historians’ views can be inclusive within context.

Germany: From Democracy to Dictatorship, 1918-1939

Source A is from the Spartacist Manifesto, first published in the Red Flag, 26 November

1918.

Source A

The revolution has made its entry into Germany. The masses of soldiers who for four years

were driven to the slaughterhouse for the sake of capitalist profits, and the masses of

workers have revolted. Prussian militarism lies broken, the Kaiser has fled. We do not say

that all power has really been lodged in the hands of the working people.

There still sit in the government all those Socialists who for four years betrayed the

German working class.

Germany is pregnant with the social revolution, but socialism can only be realised by the

workers of the world.

Evaluate the usefulness of Source A as evidence of the nature of the German

Revolution, 1918-19?

Example of: Provenance: timing

The timing of Source A is useful because it is from 26

November 1918 which was 17 days after the abdication of

the Kaiser and the proclamation of the German Republic

and so is in the middle of the on-going revolution. (T)

Example of: Provenance: Author

The authorship of Source A is also useful because it is from

the Spartacist Manifesto and so was written by committed

Bolsheviks. This shows that the revolution was marked by

conflict because the Spartacists wanted a violent revolution

as had occurred in Russia in 1917 whereas the SPD wanted

parliamentary democracy. (A)

Example of: Provenance: Purpose

The purpose of the source is to persuade people to support

the Spartacists in their attempt to force a Bolshevik

revolution. This shows that the revolution created an

atmosphere of division between different socialists groups.

(P)

Example of: Interpretation [of source content]

The source says the masses of workers have revolted.

This makes it useful because it suggests that the

revolution was popular among the working classes in

particular.(I)

Interpretation [of source content] (2)

The source also states “the masses of soldiers were forced into the

slaughterhouse for the sake of capitalist profits”. This makes it useful

because it shows the revolution was both a reaction to the war and was

anti-capitalist in its nature.(I)

Interpretation [of source content] (3)

The source says too that ‘socialists who for four years

betrayed the working class’. This makes it useful because

it shows that those groups calling for revolution did not

agree with one another about how the revolution should

take place or the type of socialism that should be

implemented.(I)

Example of: Wider Contextual Development (1)

However, the source does not mention a number of

important points about the nature of the revolution.

The source does not mention that the revolution began as a

revolution from above and was then followed by a revolution

from below showing that the revolution developed in

stages.(W)

Wider Contextual Development (2)

In addition the source does not highlight the fact that the

new government had to move to Weimar showing that the

revolution was violent and disorderly.(W)

Wider Contextual Development (3)

It does not mention that there was strong opposition to the

revolution from the Old Elites and this reflects the fact that

the revolution was, politically, a cause of deep division

between the left and right.(W)

Wider Contextual Development (4)

Although Germany did change because of the revolution

(from a monarchy to a republic, for example) in other ways it

did not change at all. For example, as a result of the Ebert-

Groener pact (10 Nov 1918) the army remained unreformed

and still at the centre of politics. So during the revolution

there was change but also continuity.(W)

Wider Contextual Development (5)

Finally, the source does not mention that the revolution from

below was sparked by mutinies at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven

which led to strike in the cities and the setting up of soviets

across Germany. This shows the revolution was led by

workers and sailors, and that it was based on popular

discontent and the demand for democratic change.(W)

Example of: Historians’ views (1)

Lee argues that the revolutionary was really evolutionary in

nature because many of the changes that occurred had

already begun before the war.(H)

Historians’ views (1)

Carr argues that the revolution was limited because much

of the structure of Germany remained unaffected by the

revolution.(H)

Russia: From Tsarism to Stalinism, 1914-1945

SOURCE A from General Alekseev’s Telegram to Nicholas II, 1 March 1917 (old style)

The danger that is growing by the minute of anarchy spreading all over the country, of the

further disintegration of the army, and the impossibility of continuing the war in the present

circumstances urgently demand the immediate publication of an Imperial Act of Abdication

which could settle the situation. This is possible only by summoning a responsible ministry,

assigning the President of the State Duma with its formation. The news which reaches us

gives us reason to hope that the Duma politicians, led by Rodzianko, can still prevent

general disintegration, and that it is possible to work with them. But the loss of every hour

reduces the last chances to preserve and restore order and fosters the seizure of power by

extreme Left elements. In view of this, with all my heart I implore your Imperial Majesty to

agree to the immediate publication of such an Act from Stavka.

1. Evaluate the usefulness of Source A as evidence of the reasons for the overthrow of

the Tsar in February 1917? 12

(Adapted from 2015 QP)

Example of: Provenance: Author

The authorship of Source A is useful as evidence of the

reasons for the overthrow of the Tsar because the source

was written by one of the Tsarist Generals, General

Alekseev, a leading General in the Russian military who had

the support of many. This ensures the source is useful

because it was written by someone very close to the Tsar

who would have been well informed of the threats facing

the Tsar, thus meaning the source is likely to be accurate

and useful.

Example of: Provenance: Purpose

However, the purpose of the source may lead to it not being

so useful in explaining the reasons for the overthrow of the

Tsar because it is known that General Alekseev was

possibly involved in a plot alongside Duma politicians to

remove the Tsar from power. This may limit the

usefulness of the source because it may exaggerate the

threats posed to the Tsar in an attempt to increase the

chances of the Tsar wishing to step down as leader as the

factors stated in the source may in fact not be as bad as the

source states.

Example of: Interpretation of source content and

Historians’ views

Source A is again useful because it states within it that “the

danger that is growing by the minute of anarchy spreading

all over the country” and this is useful as due to the Tsar’s

poor running of the nation, both as a political and military

leader it can be said that his autocracy failed and that this is

a significant factor leading to his overthrow. The threat of

disorder as a result of the failure of the Tsar’s authority can

be noted as a major factor, as Figes states “Nicholas was

the source of all problems” as he ruled an “autocracy

without an autocrat” therefore this aspect of the source

proves to be useful.

Example of: Wider contextual development and

Historians’ views

However the usefulness of the source as evidence of the

reasons for the overthrow of the Tsar may be slightly limited

as it fails to mention the increasing levels of social unrest in

Russia as a result of the lack of food, as Figes states that

the revolution was “born in the bread queues”. Due to

Russia’s involvement in the war, most of the supplies were

going to feed the army, leaving little food for the civilians in

cities such as Petrograd and Moscow, as the unrest of these

people also contributed to the overthrow of the Tsar, thus

limiting the usefulness of the source.